Ross County 1-0 Hibernian
A Richard Brittain penalty midway through the second half ensured Ross County’s place in the SPFL for next season but added to Hibs’ despair in what has turned out to be a nightmare end to the season.
The Easter Road side must now wait until their final match of the season against fellow strugglers Kilmarnock on Saturday to secure their top flight status after losing to Ross County in Dingwall tonight.
All eyes will be on Rugby Park tomorrow when Kilmarnock face St Mirren, and Terry Butcher’s men could find themselves in second-bottom place beforehand if results go against them tomorrow.
Whatever the outcome, survival remains in their own hands when they face Kilmarnock at Easter Road on Saturday.
Butcher made two enforced changes to the team that drew with Partick Thistle at the weekend with Jordon Forster replacing the suspended Michael Nelson and Danny Handling replacing the injured Kevin Thomson.
Hibs started the game brightly and Jason Cummings (pictured) tested keeper Mark Brown in the County goal before Handling dragged a shot wide.
Yann Songo’o then almost grabbed an opener for County with a close-range header which flew just over the bar before Alan Maybury forced another save from Brown.
Skipper Liam Craig twice went close with headers but it was keeper Ben Williams who kept the scores level with a fine save from a Richard Brittain strike as both teams looked for the win which would guarantee top flight football next season.
Jordan Forster then went close with a header but it was the Staggies who took the lead when Scott Robertson’s challenge on Jordan Slew inside the box was penalised by the referee and Brittain fired the ball into the corner of the net leaving Williams helpless.
Slew almost doubled County’s lead when he forced Williams into a brave save Cummings sent in a powerful drive which was inches wide.
The teenager then sent a header past the post as Hibs pressed for an equaliser but County held on for a precious win after Brown kept out Forster’s header.
Hibernian: Ben Williams, Alan Maybury, Jordon Forster, Ryan McGivern, Lewis Stevenson, Alex Harris, Scott Robertson, Sam Stanton, Liam Craig, Danny Handling, Jason Cummings
Subs: Sean Murdoch, James McPake, Paul Cairney, Owain Tudur Jones, Danny Haynes, James Collins, Duncan Watmore
Photo by John Preece